TUNISIA: "Friends of Syria" expected to demand ceasefire by Syrian goverment and humanitarian aid access during meeting in Tunis

Record ID: 280271

  • Title: TUNISIA: "Friends of Syria" expected to demand ceasefire by Syrian goverment and humanitarian aid access during meeting in Tunis
  • Date: 24th February 2012
  • Summary: TUNIS, TUNISIA (FEBRUARY 23, 2012) (REUTERS) LOBBY OF HOTEL WHERE SYRIAN OPPOSITION DELEGATES ARE STAYING DURING FRIENDS OF SYRIA CONFERENCE SET TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 24, 2012) VARIOUS OF DELEGATES IN THE LOBBY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL MOHAMMAD FAROUK TAIFOUR, SAYING: "I think it is a historical turn for the Syrian caus
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Tunisia, Tunisia
  • Country: Tunisia
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA9UUSVWW5MNULKUPRGV6827A5D
  • Story Text: Western and Arab nations will demand that Syrian forces implement an immediate ceasefire to allow relief supplies to reach desperate civilians in bombarded cities such as Homs when they meet in Tunis on Friday (February 24).
    Piling pressure on President Bashar al-Assad, U.N. investigators accused his security apparatus of crimes against humanity as world outrage mounted over violence that has cost thousands of lives during an almost year-long popular uprising against his 11-year rule.
    "We expect support for the Syrian people and the Syrian opposition financially and in terms of humanitarian aid, securing safe passage to rescue the people who in the cities and towns that are besieged to deliver the humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians with the means that are available by the countries participating," said Vice President of the Syrian National Council Mohammad Farouk Taifour told Reuters on Thursday (February 23).
    The "Friends of Syria" meeting will call on Syrian forces to stop firing to give international aid groups access to areas worst hit by the violence which are running out of medicine and food, according to a draft declaration obtained by Reuters.
    The army is blocking medical supplies to parts of Homs and electricity is cut off 15 hours a day, activists say. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been trying to arrange daily two-hour ceasefires, so far without success.
    To further isolate Assad's government, the European Union will impose more sanctions on Syria next week.
    The bloody siege of parts of Homs has aroused widespread international indignation, but the world has so far proved powerless to alleviate the predicament of civilians there.
    The draft declaration also "recognised the Syrian National Council as a legitimate representative of Syrians seeking peaceful democratic change", a phrase which appeared to fall short of full endorsement of the most prominent group opposed to Assad.
    "We expect the recognition of the Syrian National Council and this is important progress to have the opposition recognised as a national reference for the Syrian people," Taifour also said.
    About 70 nations, including the United States, Turkey, and European and Arab countries that want Assad to step down, will take part in the talks, but Russia and China, which have jointly vetoed two U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria, say they will stay away.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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